Alison Wride

I’m 60. Which is amazing and lovely and (at one point) felt unlikely. So go me. Also, this means it’s exactly 10 years ago today that some bloke on Twitter blocked me because he had no idea I was ‘so old’.

@FIFAWorldCup Fucking hell. This is excruciating. Honestly hard to know who is the bigger see you next Tuesday, Trump or Infantino.

The Final Draw starts NOW! #FIFAWorldCup

@realDonaldTrump Do you know how VAT works? It is literally a level playing field. I produce something in the UK, sell it in the UK, and VAT is levied. An American company produces something in the US, sells it in the UK and VAT is levied. How is it disadvantaging the US company?

On Trade, I have decided, for purposes of Fairness, that I will charge a RECIPROCAL Tariff meaning, whatever Countries charge the United States of America, we will charge them - No more, no less! For purposes of this United States Policy, we will consider Countries that use the VAT System, which is far more punitive than a Tariff, to be similar to that of a Tariff. Sending merchandise, product, or anything by any other name through another Country, for purposes of unfairly harming America, will not be accepted. In addition, we will make provision for subsidies provided by Countries in order to take Economic advantage of the United States. Likewise, provisions will be made for Nonmonetary Tariffs and Trade Barriers that some Countries charge in order to keep our product out of their domain or, if they do not even let U.S. businesses operate. We are able to accurately determine the cost of these Nonmonetary Trade Barriers. It is fair to all, no other Country can complain and, in some cases, if a Country feels that the United States would be getting too high a Tariff, all they have to do is reduce or terminate their Tariff against us. There are no Tariffs if you manufacture or build your product in the United States. For many years, the U.S. has been treated unfairly by other Countries, both friend and foe. This System will immediately bring Fairness and Prosperity back into the previously complex and unfair System of Trade. America has helped many Countries throughout the years, at great financial cost. It is now time that these Countries remember this, and treat us fairly – A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD FOR AMERICAN WORKERS. I have instructed my Secretary of State, Secretary of Commerce, Secretary of the Treasury, and United States Trade Representative (USTR) to do all work necessary to deliver RECIPROCITY to our System of Trade!

@MsABooKay Oh so many congratulations. Matt was a pre-Christmas baby too. Xxx

Happy Christmas from the sweary baby and I. She arrived yesterday and this is her default hand position! 🎄🎁

@disoye @hendopolis Are you sure you were a teacher? There are so many grammatical errors in your tweet, I’m going to assume you were actually a ‘Teacher’.

@hendopolis BBC 'Journalist' eh?? Time Labour minister got in there and sorted out 5th columnists like you!

I: ‘Smash the gangs won’t work’ #TomorrowsPapersToday

@oflynnsocial Agree, although I don’t think he will lay the country low. I don’t believe there are more than a handful of politicians who are in it for themselves. Most want to make things better- or maximise social welfare as I’d (snappily) describe it.

Wrong to assume that just because someone doesn't agree with you politically it follows that they don't care about their country. I disagree with Starmer on almost everything, I think he will lay the country low. But he's not setting out to do that. He just takes a different view

@ivan007 @robpalkwriter And then Musk makes his getaway in a rocket. Screaming over his shoulder “There’s no extradition treaty with Mars, suckers.” #overinvested

@robpalkwriter Or vice versa.

That’s not a schooner! (The aft sail has to be bigger than the forward sail for it to be a schooner.) #onlyconnect

@BasedBlondex @MalaakSafa Oh I’ll share mine. A man jerking off behind me in the cinema, and coming into my hair. I was 14. Will that do you?

@MalaakSafa wtf do you mean scary story!? Lmao

"Not every single woman has a scary story about a man" Yes they do. I promise you that they do.

I’m going to spend 9pm-10pm crying, for the next six Sundays. For Anne, for Jane, for Cromwell and for the genius that was Hilary Mantel. (Who made me love Cromwell). #TheMirrorAndTheLight

@EnfieldGarry To be fair that was funny.

Why must they over laugh whenever Chris says something. #Strictly 🤦🏼‍♂️

I’m pretty sure the #polygon setter @thetimes thinks they are hilarious. But actually they are just tedious. 4 words in total.

@stevehouns @thetimes I had this for years. Then (for completely unrelated reasons) I decided to give up alcohol for a year. Turns out alcohol makes me dizzy for 2-3 days, after I drink. It’s a bit crap, but also so nice to mostly live without it. (Still a sucker for a negroni.)

It's estimated that 30% of people have sought medical help for dizziness and yet its complexities are still poorly understood, even in the medical profession. But that’s beginning to change. My piece in @thetimes is based partly on personal experience. thetimes.co.uk/article/f8cdec…

@JohnHCochrane I genuinely think that getting knocked up at 17, and having my 4th and final baby at 25, was career-enhancing. Mostly because I got a clear run. But also at 17 I was planning on doing chemistry. I only discovered economics when I went to evening classes aged 26.

With trepidation, some thoughts on how to increase the number of women in economics grumpy-economist.com/p/modest-propo…

Usually, @gilescoren makes me smile on a Saturday morning. Sometimes, he makes me laugh. Occasionally, he makes me go ‘Meh’. Today, he made me cry.

Using a GIF, what was your first job?

@NatashaSHenry “I want to be a part of it…”

"Start spreading the news..."

@_harrynewmann Why would you imagine being anyone’s girlfriend? (Well, unless you really fancied them).

@Jasper231231 Thank you.

@AlisonWride That is the nicest tree I have seen so far this Christmas.

It’s been a tough week. I had an op. All ok, but I’m battered and knackered*. However, the tree is decorated, Christmas ice-cream is made & I have the #StrictlyFinal on. It’s not a bad life. *If I ever write an autobiography “Battered and Knackered” is in my top 3 titles.

@CFcarer Never too soon

Is it too soon to tell Anton to f*ck off? #StrictlyFinal